QUESTION Wendy’s union at the factory where she works is complaining about some machines that are unsafe to work around, as they have unshielded cutting blades. So Wendy and other union representatives are going to sit down with management to discuss the issue. What is the name and description for what they are going to […]
QUESTION Briefly explain the four kinds of workplace labor agreements: closed shop, union shop, agency shop, and open shop. What will be an ideal response? ANSWER Answer: Closed shop: An employer may hire only workers who are already in the union. Union shop: A worker does not have to be a union member when […]
QUESTION What was the Knights of Labor? Whom did it actively solicit as members? For what three improvements did it campaign? What will be an ideal response? ANSWER Answer: The Knights of Labor, formed in 1869 by six Philadelphia tailors, became the first truly national union. It actively solicited female and black members. It […]
QUESTION Liza works for a zoo. For decades, the zoo has been represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union. Now, Liza and her coworkers want to vote for decertification. What are they doing? What will be an ideal response? ANSWER Answer: Liza and her coworkers are voting to take away the union’s right […]
QUESTION What are the cost-of-living adjustment clause, the wage reopener clause, and givebacks? What will be an ideal response? ANSWER Answer: The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) clause is a contractual clause that states that during the period of the contract, future wage increases are tied to increases in the cost of living. The wage reopener […]
QUESTION Nancy was elected union shop steward to represent the interests of her coworkers in a grievance about overtime for the night-shift employees. When Nancy and the employees’ immediate supervisors could not come to agreement over the issue, the union’s grievance committee took the issue higher up in management. When an agreement still was not […]
QUESTION Many U.S. jobs have been and continue to be shipped offshore to low-wage countries. Management in U.S. companies is much less inclined to agree to labor’s demands for higher wages and better benefits than in the past. Which reason explaining the declining union movement is tied to those two statements? A) negative images of […]
QUESTION What are strikebreakers? What will be an ideal response? ANSWER Answer: Strikebreakers are workers who are willing to cross the picket lines and fill the jobs of striking employees. Explanation: Strikebreakers are workers who are willing to cross the picket lines and fill the jobs of striking employees.
QUESTION Blake’s chocolate factory used to require 53 workers. Now, with automatic separators, grinders, and mixers, the factory needs only 27 workers. Which reason explaining the declining union movement applies here? A) competition in the global economy B) shift from manufacturing to a service economy C) increased productivity in manufacturing jobs D) movement of manufacturing […]
QUESTION Explain primary and secondary boycotts. What will be an ideal response? ANSWER Answer: A primary boycott is a labor tactic in which the union persuades its members and customers to refuse to buy a company’s services or goods. A secondary boycott, made illegal by the Taft-Hartley Act, is a tactic in which unions […]
